Book-holder.



No. 639,370. Pdfented Dec; l9, I899.

.T. J. GARY.

BOOK HOLDER.

(Application filed Dec. 9, 1898.)

(No Model.)

Wit zssas M FFICE.

THEODORE J. GARY, OF OREGON CITY, OREGON.

BOOK-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,370, dated December 19, 1899.

' Application filed December 9,1898. Serial No. 698,749. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE J. GARY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oregon City, in the couutyof Olackamas and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Book-Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to book-holders; and the object thereof is to provide such a device which will support the book at an angle before the reader and which may be folded within a small compass when not in use.

A further object is to provide improved means whereby the leaves of the book may be held from being accidentally turned, while at the same time permitting the reader turning the leaves at his pleasure.

To this end the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the sides of the frame of the device, each of which is formed of a single-piece and are duplicates in shape and size. Each side is provided at its lower end with an arm 2, which extends at Y approximately right angles thereto. From the outer end of this arm the side is continued downward in a plane parallel with the upper portion of the side, forming a leg 3. The lower end of the leg is recurved, as at 4, to form a supportingfoot. The sides are connected together by means of a pair of links 5, which are pivotally connected at their inner ends, as at 6, and to the respective sides, as at 7. By this means the sides are connected together, forming a substantial frame, which may be folded together, as shown in Fig. 3. The sides are each provided with a proppingleg 8, which is hinged to the side, preferably below the links, as shown at 9. These legs are recurved at their lower ends to form feet 10.

Fig. 2 is a side ele- Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of i Fig. 4 is a de- The book is supported upon the arms 2, with the lower edge of its cover seated in notches 11 in the arms, and resting against the sides of the frame in an inclined position. This inclination may be varied by adjusting the propping-legs S, and the notches 11 are prefdown ward.

To hold the leaves open, I provide each side with leaf-holding fingers 12, which are pivoted intermediate their ends to the outer ends of arms 2 and are provided with thumb-pieces 13.. The outer ends of arms 2 are beveled or inclined outwardly, and the leaf-holding fingers are pivoted to the beveled ends of the arms, whereby said fingers are inclined toward the leaves of the book, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. The purpose of this inclined position of the fingers is to accommodate them to the varying thicknesses of books. Also as the leaves are turned the book becomes thicker on one side and thinner on the other side, and by turningthe fingers by means of the thumb-pieces the leaves may be held firmly against the back of the book at any place of opening of the book. To turn over a new page, it is simply necessary to turn the fingers inward upon their pivots, whereby the leaves are released from their pressure and may be turned as desired, when the fin gers are turned back again to hold the leaves,

as at first.

By pivoting the leaf-holders intermediate of their ends a plurality of radial fingers 12 is provided, so that the holder is adapted to be turned in a continuous direction,thereby bringing the fingers successively into engagement with the leaves. It will be understood that with a thick book it is preferable to turn the fingers away from the bend of the book, as it is difficult to turn the same in the opposite direction on account of the increased thickness caused by the usual bulge near the bend of the leaves. This invention obviates such a disadvantage by providing a plurality of radial leaf-holding fingers which are capable of being turned so as to bring the. fingers successively into operation.

With the covers of the book seated in the notches 11 they are held open or apart and are prevented from shutting together, and the leaves being held in place by the pivoted fingers the book is supported in the proper position for reading and is held securely open at the desired place.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention, and therefore I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement as herein set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a book-holder, the frame composed of sides and links pivoted together and connecting said sides, whereby the frame may be folded together, in combination with proppinglegs for the sides, and means for supporting a book thereon, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a book-holder, the frame composed of sides having book-supporting arms, and links pivoted together at their inner ends and to the respective sides at their outer ends, and propping-legs hinged to the sides, substantially as shown and described.

In a book-holder, the frame composed of sides having book-supporting arms at the lower ends thereof, and supporting-legs eX- tending from the outer end of said arms, links pivotally connected together at their inner ends and at their outer ends to the respective sides, and propping-legs hinged to the sides, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE J. GARY.

Witnesses:

ELMER DIXON, E. H. COOPER. 

